The Most Venerable Jinwoo, executive director of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, met with and encouraged the fifth couple to emerge from "I Am Going to a Temple," a matchmaking program for single men and women run by the Buddhist community.
Jinwoo held a friendly meeting with Han Dong-hee and Lee Eun-joo, who met through "I Am Going to a Temple, Ssanggyesa," on the 19th at the reception room of the Korean Buddhism History and Culture Memorial Hall in Seoul's Jongno District. The two met at the Ssanggyesa session held April 18-19 last year and will hold their wedding on the 24th. Jinwoo attended that session in person to encourage the participants.
Speaking to the engaged couple, Jinwoo said, "In married life, there will be moments when you feel hurt by each other or conflict arises." He added, "At such times, it is important to let go of your own mind first, rather than trying to change the other person." He also offered encouragement, saying, "I hope you will steadily practice letting go of the mind through Seon meditation and build a home where you ease each other's suffering." Jinwoo bestowed the Buddhist names "Seonwoo" and "Hyeyeon" on Han and Lee, respectively.
Han and Lee presented Jinwoo with a bouquet congratulating him on his inauguration as executive director and donated 1 million won to a Buddhist social welfare development fund. The couple said, "We will live even better, given the encouragement the executive director has given us."
"I Am Going to a Temple," which began in November 2023 and has run 18 sessions, has drawn 18,352 applicants, with 205 pairs taking part and 93 pairs forming a match. Of those, five couples have married and seven are preparing to wed. In July this year, a couple from "I Am Going to a Temple, Naksansa" had their first baby.
Next month, "I Am Going to a Temple, Paradise Party With Newjeans Nim" — featuring the DJ monk known as Newjeans Nim, a stage name punning on the Korean word for a newly ordained monk — will be held Nov. 7-8 at the Korean Culture Training Institute in Gongju. A session for men and women in their 30s and 40s, "I Am Going to a Temple, Haeinsa," is scheduled for Dec. 5-6.